i82 Journal of Agriculture. [lo March. 1909. 



The morning following my arrival I called on H.B.M. Vice-Consul, 

 Mr. E. Marker, to whom I had a letter of introduction and who 

 received me most warmlv. It is to him that I am indebted for introduc- 

 tions which enabled me to see something of the lexia raisin industry of 

 Denia, a description of which appeared in the January number of the 

 Journal. Being directly interested in the preserved fruit and also in 

 the raisin trade, he was in a position to give me much valuable assistance 

 and advice, which he most freelv did. I take this opportunity of ten- 

 ■dering him my sincere thanks. 



Fruit canning and pulping are important industries in Valencia. The 

 former has undergone some modification of late, owing to the Chicago 

 scare and the prejudice which resulted in England against tinned fruit. 

 Much fruit is now put up in Spain in large tins and transferred after its 

 arrival in London to glass jars. 



The Escuela Pratica de Agricultura. 



Together with Dr. Edouardo Bosca, one of the professors at the 

 Valencia Uni\ersity, to whom I also had a letter of introduction, I 

 visited the Escuela Practica de Agricultura (practical school of agricul- 

 ture) situated at Burjasot, just outside the town of Valencia. The 

 school is under the direction of Don Dr. Jose Maria Marti to whom I 

 have already had occasion to refer. He was absent on my first visit 

 but T w^as fortunately able to meet him on my return to Valencia from 

 Denia. 



It has already been stated that the Spanish peasant in the irrigated 

 areas has attained a high state of proficiency in the working of his 

 holding. This is no doubt true, but his methods are often old fashioned. 

 They have as a rule been handed down from previous generations and 

 though, owing to thoroughness, good results are usually obtained, even 

 better are to be looked for from the infusion of knowledge of modern 

 scientific developments in agriculture. The Government of Spain has 

 recognised this fact for some time and, more especially of late, it is 

 ■doing good w^ork in the way of expeiimental work and the dissemination 

 of up-to-date agricultural information. 



The Escuela at Burjasot performs toth functions. Until recently it 

 was what is known as a Granja Instituto de Agricultura (experimental 

 farm) ; it was converted into a practical school by Royal decree of 4th 

 January, 1907. This establishment is not an agricultural college. It 

 is essentially an experimental station Avhere labourers and sons of small 

 farmers can without great pecuniary sacrifice receive practical instruction 

 such as will enable them to better work their holdings. The students 

 are practical agriculturists of the neighbourhood. They perform the 

 work of the place and are paid at the rate of 1.75 pesetas (is. S^d.) 

 per day from which i peseta (lod.) is deducted for their keep. The 

 instruction given to these labourer students is mainly practical, though a 

 few lectures are also delivered — the course lasts twelve months. A 

 higher course, both practical and theoretical, is also given to qualify 

 students for positions of capataz (overseer) on large estates. 



In addition to this regular work special short courses are given as 

 follows : — 



Courses of about three months' duration in connexion with some special 

 form of agriculture to students who receive no pay. 



Short courses to soldiers in barracks, a small number of whom are 

 taken at a time, for four days a week, in rotation. 



During the holidays special courses are given to State school teachers 

 to qualify them to give lessons on agricultural subjects in their schools. 



